Table 2

Baseline values and changes in the outcome variables during the one year of the study by treatment group^2-150

Efficacy variable		Baseline			Change during the study
Efficacy variable		SASP n=68	MTX n=69		SASP+ MTX n=68	p value	SASP n=68	MTX n=69	SASP+ MTX n=69	p value
Symptomatic efficacy variable
Patient’s global assessment	2.5	2.5	2.4	NS	−0.9	−0.9	−0.8	NS
Physician’s global assessment	2.4	2.4	2.4	NS	−0.7	−0.7	−0.6	NS
Ritchie articular index	17.6	16.5	18.9	NS	−7.1	−4.2	−9.4	0.001
Swollen joints	10.5	9.4	9.4	NS	−4.5	−3.9	−4.5	NS
HAQ	1.38	1.25	1.32	NS	−0.74	−0.73	−0.70	NS
Morning stiffness (min)	78	92	95	NS	−46	−53	−55	NS
ESR (mm 1st h)	42	46	38	NS	−30	−24	−25	NS
CRP (mg/l)	30	37	29	NS	−8	−16	−17	NS
DAS	4.23	4.13	4.24	NS	−1.15	−0.87	−1.26	0.019
Structural efficacy variable ^†
Erosion score	2.77	3.78	4.28	NS	+2.38	+2.38	+1.85	NS
Narrowing score	3.34	4.52	4.63	NS	+2.26	+2.12	+1.61	NS
Total damage score	6.11	8.30	8.91	NS	+4.64	+4.50	+3.46	NS

↵2-150 Values given are mean and p value is referred to the statistical significance using the inter-group comparison (analysis of variance), in the intention to treat analysis. ^†This analysis was performed in the completers with available radiographs (46, 49, and 49 patients in the SASP, MTX, and SASP + MTX groups, respectively).